DURING 1976, 5,000 COMMERCIAL BODY ARMOR GARMENTS AND GARMENTS DESIGNED OF IDENTICAL BALLISTIC MATERIAL (KEVLAR 29) FOR THE LEAA WERE ISSUED TO PATROL OFFICERS IN 15 CITIES. FIELD TEST DATA WERE ANALYZED AND EVALUATED, AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONS OF THE LEAA ARMOR WERE IMPLEMENTED AND TESTED. STUDIES TO CHARACTERIZE THE MECHANICAL AND BALLISTIC PROPERTIES OF KEVLAR 29 WERE CARRIED OUT. GUIDELINES FOR THE SPECIFICATION AND PROCUREMENT OF SOFT BODY ARMOR WERE DEVELOPED. THE STUDY FOUND THAT ARMOR CONTAINING 7 TO 12 PLIES OF PROTECTIVE MATERIAL IS OPTIMUM IN TERMS OF PREVENTING FATALITIES OR INJURIES. CHANGES IN ATTITUDES AMONG OFFICERS WEARING ARMOR WERE NEGLIGIBLE. NONE OF THE DESIGNS TESTED INTERFERED WITH THE OFFICERS' ACTIVITIES. NONE OF THE OFFICERS WHO WERE SHOT OR STABBED WHILE WEARING AN ARMOR GARMENT SUSTAINED INTERNAL INJURIES. THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REPORTS THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM EACH ASPECT OF THE STUDY. FOR THE COMPLETE REPORT, SEE VOLUMES 2 AND 3, NCJ-46837 AND NCJ-46835. (LKM)